25 Beautiful Homes – July 2019

A

ustralian-borninteriordesignerLynleaWestwasliving
insoutheastLondonwithhusbandGarethandson
Lucas,now11,whenthethornyissueofprimaryschools
arose.‘Weweresurroundedbylotsofoutstanding
primaryschoolsbutfelljustoutsidetheircatchmentareas,’shesays.
‘Wecametoa summerfairata schoola coupleofmilesawayand
I lovedthevibe,sowebeganlookingtobuyinthearea,’saysLynlea.
Theyhadseenalmost 50 houseswhentheycameacrossan
unlovedEighties‘infill’house,builtwherea bombhadlandedduring
the Second World War. ‘Despite its tired state we were sure we’d be

abletoextendintothelargegarden,’saysLynlea.Thepurchasewent

throughandthefamilymovedininlate2011.Theyplannedtoturn

itfroma three-toa four-bedroomhomewitha largekitchen,but

circumstancesdictatedtheworkbegansoonerthananticipated.

‘Alec,whois nowseven,wasontheway,soextendingintotheloft

becamea priority,’saysLynlea.Despiteherbump,Lynleawould

climba laddertothelofttoseehowit wasgoing.‘Alecarrivedabout

amonthbeforeit wasfinishedsoit wasalla bitchaotic,’shesays.

Afewyearslater,in2015,workbeganontheextension.‘Ittook

about four months,’ says Lynlea. ‘The builder set us up a temporary

HALLwAy

Herringboneflooring

providestextureanda

minimalistclockadds

interesttoa plainwall.

Clock,£55,Nomonat

Amara.tiles,froma

selection, Fired earth

SITTINGROOM

Awallofbuilt-in

shelvingissmartand

practicalandcreates

analcoveforthesofa.

glasssidetables,

froma selection,

Andrew Martin

KITCHEN-DINER

Palewoodcombines

perfectlywithcopper

andgreytones.

Kitchen,priceson

request,rotpunkt.roger

stools,£110,French

Connection home

26 | 25bhJuLy 2019